CVE-2011-1481 in PHP-Nuke
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Francisco Burzi PHP-Nuke 8.0 and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) sender_name or (2) sender_email parameter in a Feedback action to modules.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1481 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Francisco Burzi PHP-Nuke versions 8.0 and earlier. This vulnerability resides within the feedback module functionality of the content management system, specifically targeting the sender_name and sender_email parameters that are processed during Feedback actions in modules.php. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of other users' browsers, potentially compromising the security of the entire web application ecosystem. The vulnerability operates by failing to properly sanitize user input before rendering it within web pages, creating an attack surface where malicious payloads can be injected and executed without proper validation or encoding mechanisms.
This XSS vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in software systems. The attack vector exploits the lack of input validation and output encoding in the feedback submission process, allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code through the vulnerable parameters. When users view the feedback submissions, the injected scripts execute in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks including persistent XSS scenarios where malicious code is stored on the server and executed against multiple users over time.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-1481 is significant for organizations relying on PHP-Nuke 8.0 or earlier versions, as it creates persistent security risks that can compromise user sessions and potentially lead to full system compromise. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to steal cookies, session tokens, and other sensitive information from authenticated users. The vulnerability also enables the execution of arbitrary commands in the context of the victim's browser, making it particularly dangerous for applications that handle sensitive data or user authentication. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566 (Phishing) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) techniques, as attackers can use the XSS flaw to deliver malicious payloads and execute commands through compromised user sessions.
Organizations utilizing affected PHP-Nuke versions must implement immediate mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and proper parameter sanitization within the feedback module. The recommended approach involves implementing strict input validation for all user-supplied data, particularly focusing on the sender_name and sender_email parameters. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers and proper HTML encoding of output data can significantly reduce the attack surface. The most effective long-term solution requires upgrading to PHP-Nuke versions that have addressed this vulnerability through proper input validation mechanisms and enhanced security features. Security patches should include comprehensive sanitization routines that prevent the injection of malicious scripts while maintaining the functionality of legitimate feedback submissions. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect potential exploitation attempts against this vulnerability.